South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sought to play down reports that he was excluded from this year’s G7 summit, insisting that non-attendance by a country outside the bloc should not be interpreted as a diplomatic slight.
Speaking on Thursday, Ramaphosa said it was neither unusual nor unexpected for non-member states to be omitted from the gathering of the world’s leading industrialised nations. “The invitation to the G7 does not mean that you’re being snubbed if you’re not invited or you’re being ignored,” he said, in remarks that appeared aimed at calming speculation over South Africa’s absence.
The comments followed claims that the United States had exerted significant pressure on France, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven, to rescind an earlier invitation extended to Pretoria. Reports suggested that US President Donald Trump had even threatened to boycott the summit if Ramaphosa were to attend.
French officials have firmly rejected those claims. Paris insists that its decision on guest invitations was made independently, with a focus on broadening representation and addressing global economic disparities. This year’s summit, scheduled to take place in Évian-les-Bains in June, will instead include leaders from India, Brazil, South Korea and Kenya.
According to France’s foreign ministry, the selection reflects an effort to “correct global economic imbalances” and strengthen engagement with emerging economies and key regional partners. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the format had been deliberately streamlined, adding that Kenya’s inclusion was also linked to preparations for an upcoming Africa-France summit in Nairobi.
The controversy emerged after Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South Africa’s presidency, suggested earlier in the day that Pretoria had initially been invited but later excluded due to “sustained pressure from the US”. He indicated that the original invitation had been personally extended by French President Emmanuel Macron during the G20 summit in Johannesburg last year.
However, Ramaphosa later contradicted that account, stating that, based on the information available to him, there had been “no pressure from any country”. He reiterated that South Africa’s participation in past G7 meetings had always been at the discretion of the host nation, and that the country had not attended every summit.
“So many countries around the world don’t get invited to the G7, and we are not a member,” he said. “When we do go, we are invited, and we take a message there.” He added that South Africa’s absence from this year’s meeting “should come as no surprise to anyone”.
Officials in Washington have also sought to distance themselves from the dispute. A US State Department representative said that no request had been made for South Africa to be excluded, while a White House official told Reuters that Kenya’s invitation followed discussions among G7 members rather than unilateral pressure.
Nevertheless, the episode underscores the broader strain in relations between Washington and Pretoria since Trump’s return to office. The two countries have clashed over a range of issues, including trade policy, diplomatic alignment and South Africa’s domestic reforms.
Trump has been particularly critical of Ramaphosa’s government, accusing it of failing to protect white South Africans and condemning its approach to land redistribution. Pretoria has strongly rejected those claims, arguing that allegations of a so-called “white genocide” are unfounded and unsupported by credible evidence.
Tensions have also been fuelled by economic measures. Last year, the United States imposed some of its highest tariffs on South African exports among African nations, a move that Pretoria viewed as punitive. Diplomatic friction intensified further when South Africa summoned the newly appointed US ambassador, Brent Bozell, over what it described as “undiplomatic remarks” بشأن the country’s judiciary and racial policies.
Although Bozell later appeared to soften his tone, affirming US respect for South Africa’s legal system, the incident highlighted the fragility of bilateral ties.
Despite these challenges, South African officials maintain that efforts to repair the relationship are ongoing. Magwenya said on Thursday that the “process to reset the relationship with the US remains ongoing”, signalling a desire to stabilise ties amid continuing disagreements.
At the same time, Pretoria has been keen to emphasise that its relationship with France remains unaffected by the G7 invitation controversy. “Our bilateral relationship with France remains strong and will not be impacted,” Magwenya said.
For Ramaphosa, the message appears clear: while participation in global forums such as the G7 may carry symbolic weight, South Africa’s international standing is not defined by a single invitation — or the lack of one.
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